Hi Adrian,What did you want to know? The pipes Tom has in the photo weren't his, but, as far as I'm aware, were borrowed for the purposes of the photograph. I remember Forster Charlton telling me that he and Colin Ross visited Tom around that time and attached a length of hose to Forster's chanter so that Tom could finger the pipes with Forster operating the bellows, bag and drones. Forster recorded this, but later erased it as Tom's deafness hampered his playing. Forster felt it would be unfair on Tom if the recording was to survive. Then again, we'll see what turns up in Forster's collection!

[quote="Julia Say"]Colin has consistently maintained that Forster wiped it, Chris, but I too am wondering.....we are getting closer to meaningful interaction with this collection, but its huge!Arse...I'll reply later.

Tom did say you should play with the pads, not the tips of the fingers, but the middle joint of the fingers is a new one on me. Forster's bag seems to be running at less than atmospheric pressure.Tom played some hornpipes with DAda drones, for a richer sound.If this photo is as it seems, he used DGdg sometimes....

But if the shot is staged, nothing in it means anything, and Forster's remarkably low playing pressure suggests this.